THE 1868 SHAKE IN NAPIER

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3262, 19 February 1931, Page 5

THE 1868 SHAKE IN NAPIER

INTERESTING MEMORIES.

An exchange credited Mr J. Beil, of Foxton, with having said that the sailing ship Northumberland was in the Napier harbour at the time of the big earthquake in 1868. Major Garner, however, who was a resident of Napier from 1865 till 1907, states that the Northumberland was wrecked in ’B6 or ’B7 and that she was driven ashore on the Western Spit, or Petane Beach as it was called in the early days and that it was during a gale with a heavy south-westerly sea running. The Union Company’s passenger launch went to the Northumberland’s assistance but fouled her cable and capsized, several lives being lost. Major Garner lived in Napier for 42 years and has some interestingstories to relate of the earthquake in 1868. There were few buildings on the flat in those days and, although big falls of earth were reported in various localities, there was little damage to house property. One curious thing was that the tide came in and out of the Inner Harbour four or five times during the 24 hours following the shake. Another curious thing was that they experienced a serious earthquake in Peru at the same time.

When Napier was first settled it was joined to the mainland by not much more than a spit, and Major Garner remembers seeing a fair-siz-ed schooner as far along as Awatoto on the inside of the spit.